Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany
Study note
At a supper in Bethany with the recently raised Lazarus present, Mary pours a pound of costly spikenard on Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair. Judas Iscariot objects on the pretense of caring for the poor, though John notes he was actually a thief. Jesus defends Mary's act as preparation for his burial, revealing that his death is imminent. Meanwhile, the chief priests plot to kill Lazarus as well, because his resurrection is drawing many to believe in Jesus.
1 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany. This is where Lazarus lived -- the man Jesus had brought back from the dead. Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 The people there prepared a special dinner for him. Martha was busy serving the meal, and Lazarus sat there at the table with Jesus. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Mary brought out an entire pound of exceedingly expensive perfume -- pure spikenard. She poured it over Jesus's feet and then wiped his feet with her hair. The beautiful smell of the perfume filled the whole house. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 But Judas Iscariot spoke up. He was one of Jesus's followers. He was the one who would later turn against Jesus. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 "That perfume was worth three hundred denarii! Why was it not sold and the money given to people who need it?" Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 He was not concerned about poor people. The truth was, he was a thief. He was in charge of the group's money bag and regularly helped himself to what was inside. This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She was saving this perfume for the day I would be buried." Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 "Poor people will always be around for you to help, but I will not always be here with you." For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9 Word got out that Jesus was in Bethany, and a big crowd appeared. They came not only to see Jesus but also to get a look at Lazarus, the man he had raised from the dead. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests added Lazarus to their hit list and started planning to kill him too, But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 because his story was causing more and more Jewish people to leave the leaders and put their faith in Jesus. Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
Study note
A great crowd greets Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, waving palm branches and crying 'Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!' Jesus rides on a young donkey, fulfilling the prophecy from Zechariah. The crowd's enthusiasm is fueled by the testimony of those who witnessed Lazarus' resurrection. The Pharisees lament among themselves that 'the whole world has gone after him.'
12 The next day, the massive crowd in Jerusalem for the feast heard that Jesus was heading their way. On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 They grabbed palm branches and poured out of the city to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! The King of Israel is coming! He is blessed because he comes in the name of the Lord!" Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 Jesus found a young donkey and climbed onto it, exactly as the old prophecy had described: And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 "Don't be afraid, people of Zion! Look -- here comes your King, riding on a young donkey!" Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
16 At the time, the followers did not understand what was happening. But after Jesus was glorified, they looked back and realized that the scriptures had predicted all of this, and they had played a part in fulfilling it. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17 The people who had been there when Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb could not stop talking about it. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 Therefore such a great crowd went out to meet him. They had heard about this amazing miracle. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees threw up their hands and said to each other, "This is useless! Look -- the entire world is running after him!" The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
The Hour Has Come
Study note
When Greeks come seeking Jesus, he recognizes this as the signal that his hour has come for glorification through death. Using the analogy of a grain of wheat that must fall into the ground and die to bear fruit, Jesus teaches that self-sacrifice is the path to eternal fruitfulness. His soul is troubled, yet he submits to the Father's purpose. A voice from heaven confirms divine glorification, and Jesus speaks of being 'lifted up from the earth' to draw all people to himself -- a reference to his crucifixion.
20 Among the people who had traveled to Jerusalem for the feast, there were some Greeks. And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, "Sir, we would like to meet Jesus." The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip went and told Andrew about it, and then the two of them went together to tell Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 Jesus responded, "The time has finally arrived for the Son of Man to receive his glory." And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 "Here is a deep truth: a single grain of wheat sits there by itself unless it falls into the ground and dies. But once it dies, it springs up and produces a whole harvest." Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 "Anyone who clings tightly to their life in this world will end up losing it. But anyone who lets go of their life in this world will hold on to it forever." He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 "If someone wants to serve me, they need to walk the same road I walk. Wherever I am, that is where my servant will be too. And my Father will personally honor anyone who serves me." If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 "Right now my heart is torn apart with grief. Should I pray, 'Father, rescue me from what is about to happen'? No! This is the very reason I came." Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 "Father, bring glory to your name!" At that moment, a voice boomed from heaven: "I have already brought glory to it, and I will do so again." Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The crowd standing around heard the sound. Some said it was just thunder. Others said, "An angel was talking to him!" The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus told them, "That voice was not for my benefit -- it was for yours." Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 "Right now, this world is being judged. Right now, the ruler of this world is being thrown out." Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 "And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will pull every person toward me." And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 He said this to give them a hint about how he was going to die. This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The crowd pushed back: "The law tells us that the Christ will live forever. So how can you say 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man you keep talking about?" The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Jesus told them, "The light is going to be with you for just a little while longer. Keep walking while you still have the light, before darkness catches up with you. A person walking in the dark has no idea where they are headed." Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 "While the light is still here, put your trust in it, and you will become people who are full of light." After saying this, Jesus walked away and hid from them. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Unbelief Despite Signs
Study note
Despite witnessing many miraculous signs, the people largely refuse to believe, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about blinded eyes and hardened hearts. Even among the rulers, some believe secretly but fear excommunication. Jesus makes a final public appeal, declaring that he came as a light so that no one need remain in darkness, and that his words will serve as the final judge on the last day. His message comes not from himself but from the Father who sent him.
37 Despite all the miracles he had performed before them, most people still would not believe in him. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 This fulfilled what the prophet Esaias had written long ago: "Lord, who has believed our message? And who has recognized your mighty power at work?" That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 They were unable to believe, and Esaias explained why in another place: Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 "He has shut their eyes and closed off their minds, so they cannot see with their eyes or understand in their hearts and turn to me for healing." He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 Esaias wrote these words because he had been given a glimpse of Christ's glory, and he was describing what he saw. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42 Even so, quite a few of the leaders secretly believed in Jesus. But they were too afraid of the Pharisees to admit it publicly, because they did not want to be kicked out of the synagogue. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 They cared more about what other people thought of them than what God thought of them. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Jesus called out, "When you believe in me, you are not believing in me. You are believing in the one who sent me." Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 "And when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me." And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 "I came into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me would have to stay trapped in the dark." I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 "If someone hears what I say and chooses not to follow it, I am not going to judge that person. After all, I did not come to judge the world -- I came to save it." And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 "But there is a judge for anyone who turns away from me and ignores my words. On the last day, the very message I have spoken will be the judge." He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 "I have not been speaking on my own authority. The Father who sent me told me exactly what to say and how to say it." For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 "And I know that what the Father tells me to say leads to life that lasts forever. So everything I say is exactly what the Father has told me to say." And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.